Today's News

To share the latest research-based information with more grain crops producers across Kentucky, the University of Kentucky Grain Crops Academy will offer programs in two different areas of the state beginning in January.

The expansion is due to the overwhelming response from producers in each of the previous two years when it was held at only one location.

At a special called meeting held Dec. 23 due to the Christmas holiday, the Washington County Fiscal Court approved both Sheriff Tommy Bartley and County Clerk Glenn Black's budgets for calendar year 2010.

First to present their budget was Bartley and deputy Melissa Knopp, who proposed a 2010 budget of $469,000.

During the 2009 harvest, many growers, especially those who relied on natural air drying, struggled to get their grain dried down to appropriate moisture levels. With harvest finished, now is a good time for grain producers to weigh the pros and cons of purchasing a grain dryer.

“Having a dryer on hand gives you flexibility about when you can harvest and the moisture levels you can work with,” said Sam McNeill, extension agricultural engineer with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.

The Washington County Commanderettes continued action in the Caverna Lady Colonel Christmas Classic tournament last week. After losing at the last second to Edmonson County in a 46-45 loss on Dec. 19, the girls faced Russell County on Dec. 21.

The Commanderettes stayed with the Lakers for the first quarter, each team totaling 10 points. Russell County pulled ahead slightly in the second quarter, outscoring WC 12-9 to take a 22-19 lead into the break.

The new year is the ideal time to make a fresh start. It's a time for new beginnings and to follow through on those New Year's resolutions. One of the most popular resolutions is to stop smoking, and the Washington County Health Department is offering a free series of classes that will help smokers finally kick the habit.

To ensure accurate soil pH readings, the University of Kentucky’s Soil Testing Laboratory has developed a new method for conducting soil tests. This method will be implemented beginning Jan. 1, but those who submit soil samples likely will not notice the change because the results will continue to be in the same format, said Frank Sikora, UK soil testing coordinator.

With holiday bills coming in and some people looking to just put food on the table or clothes on their backs, the timing couldn't be more perfect for the U.S. Census Bureau to begin recruiting employees for the 2010 census. Potential employees from Washington County, as well as surrounding counties, have been among the hopefuls who have recently completed a testing process aimed at hiring census workers.